From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishldoce_250_dpatchpatch1 /pætʃ/ ●●○ noun [countable]1part of an areaMARKAREA a small area of something that is different from the area around itpatch ofWe finally found a patch of grass to sit down on.Belinda watched a patch of sunlight move slowly across the wall.Look out for icy patches on the road.a cat with a white patch on its chestHe combs his hair over his bald patch.2over a holeDCC a small piece of material that is sewn on something to cover a hole in ita jacket with leather patches at the elbows3for growing somethingDLGAREA a small area of ground for growing fruit or vegetablesa strawberry patch4computer a small computer program that is added to software to solve problems5eyeMDPROTECT a piece of material that you wear over your eye to protect it when it has been hurtHe had a black patch over one eye.6decorationDCCDECORATE American English a small piece of cloth with words or pictures on it that you can sew onto clothes syn badge British English7 →a bad/difficult/sticky/rough patch8 →somebody’s patch9 →not be a patch on somebody/somethingCOLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + patcha small/large etc patchSome of the hills still had small patches of snow.a white/black/red etc patchThe bird has a large black patch on each side of its neck.a damp/wet patchThere were damp patches on the ceilings.a bald patchHe stroked the bald patch on the back of his head .a dark patchShe noticed two dark patches on the sleeve of his shirt.a clear patchClear patches of brilliant blue sky appeared briefly through the white storm clouds.a bright patchPoppies and daisies provided bright patches of colour along the edge of the field. icy patches (=on a road)Some icy patches are likely on roads as temperatures drop tonight.fog patchesThere'll be a widespread frost with mist and one or two fog patches